described in 1852 by Guenee, who originally placed it in genus Xanthia

* phylogenetic sequence #932616

Numbers

Three Sunira species are found in America north of Mexico

Size

wingspan 28-38 mm

Identification

Adult: forewing pale straw-yellow to deep orange-yellow, shaded with light brown or gray; lower half of reniform spot filled with gray; lines usually obscure; PM line a series of black dots; subterminal line continuous from inner margin to costa; in some specimens, outer half of forewing completely purplish-gray; hindwing paler than forewing, shaded with grayish-brown

[adapted from description by Charles Covell]

TT: Almost identical to Sunira verberata which has the same range in Canada (but no further east than NB). Best told apart by hind wing.

Larva: head black; body orangish-brown with black dorsal band on first thoracic segment; abdomen with dark brown dorsal triangle on each segment

Range

eastern half of United States (except southern Florida) plus every province in Canada

Habitat

adults are common visitors to lights throughout fall

Season

adults fly from August to December in the south; September to November in the north

Yellow Three-Spot (Apamea helva) flies earlier [July to September] and forewing subterminal line is broken near costa, not continuous from inner margin to costa (compare images of both species at CBIF)

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.